The Rosevine

“Welcoming and relaxed apart-hotel by the sea; ideal for family holidays or romantic breaks outside school holidays”

It’s a long drive to the beautiful Roseland Peninsula in south Cornwall, but 100% worth it for the quiet beaches, blue seas, stunning countryside and pretty villages you'll discover. And at the very end of this peninsula you'll find the welcoming white facade of The Rosevine, the hotel/apartment cross that's made UK family holidays a heck of a lot easier and a whole lot more chic. Yet despite its lovely interiors, there's an unpretentious, homely charm about the place that's perfect for calming post-journey frazzled nerves.

This grand Georgian house is imbued with a fresh, seaside style and the team really thought of everything. Comfortable accommodation, check. Inviting communal spaces, check. A heated indoor pool and lovely playroom with a train set, board games and kids' films - check! Add to this in-room kitchenettes for preparing snacks, a sea-view restaurant, a vast garden with a playground, and a sandy beach just a stroll away. Family holiday heaven, indeed - but also a great place for couples to enjoy Cornwall's charms in quieter months. Above all, what we really loved about The Rosevine was its small, intimate size, and homely ambiance. Staff are friendly, the vibe casual and relaxed.

A little extra

for i-escape guests

an afternoon tea sharing slate

Highs

Stylish accommodation: studios or 2-bed apartments. All have a reasonable amount of space and many have sea views

Lows

Couples may prefer to avoid school holidays but don't write this place off, it's wonderfully romantic the rest of the year

The in-room kitchenettes are basic - no hobs, just a microwave-oven

The indoor pool could become crowded in peak season

Some rooms lack sea views, but all have their charms

Best time to go

“The Rosevine is fantastic come rain or shine. Apartments are cool in summer and cosy in winter. Cornwall is especially lovely in spring and autumn when the crowds have eased, but the beaches cry out for summer holidays and buckets and spades.”

Our top tips

“The heated indoor pool is a treat for parents as well as kids. Many mums and dads take turns sneaking down for a peaceful early morning swim each day.

Staying with the dog? We took a pre-breakfast walk along the beach to make the most of the near-empty sands and glorious golden light.”

Rooms

There are 15 apart-rooms spread between the main house and a quieter annexe; those in the former have a seaside-chic style whereas those in the latter have a contemporary-cool vibe. Beds are seriously comfy - doubles for adults, twins or bunk rooms for kids. Bathrooms have a shower and/or tub plus fluffy bathrobes (handy for the pool). Each room has a kitchenette, too, for preparing snacks.

In the main house, each is named after a local beach and elegantly decorated in stripes and seagrass flooring, with linen cushions and lovely nautical details. We especially liked ground-floor Blouth, Manare and Polkirt. All have 2 bedrooms (a double and a twin or bunk room), open-plan living areas and double doors opening onto a decked terrace and the sea-view garden beyond. These are the most popular rooms, so book early. Kids will love being close to the indoor pool!

Upstairs, Caerhays was our favourite as it felt so spacious. Our kids loved Hemmick's attic bedroom and Porthluney's bunk room. The sea-view Main House Studios - Chapel Point, Cadythew, May’s and Phoebe’s – can interconnect and are ideal for a couple with a baby or 1 child.

On our most recent visit, we stayed in one of the newer (dog-friendly) Slate Rooms. Hidden in an annexe at the back of the property, each one opens onto a small terrace and a quiet communal garden. Fresh white floorboards and contemporary leather armchairs filled the generous open-plan space, and the luxe ensuite wet-room was a welcome treat.

Features include:

Bathrobes

Central heating

Coffee maker

Coffee tea making

Cots Available

Dishwasher

Dvd player

Extra beds

Fan

Fridge

Hairdryer

Internet access

Ipod dock

Iron

Kitchenette

Microwave

Phone

Radio

Terrace

Toaster

Toiletries

Tv

WiFi

Eating

The Rosevine's shuttered sea-view restaurant is airy in the day and candlelit at night - we found it wonderfully relaxing. With a modern dinner menu of fusion classics, we feasted on lamb mulligatawny with naan and yoghurt, followed by hearty Cornish chowder - spicy, who knew? But the tender braised beef short rib with divine potato terrine and blue cheese crust stole our hearts. For pudding, we could have kept it local with the Cornish cheese selection but the clotted cream parfait with caramelised banana and chocolate mousse was calling to us. The wine list was short but reasonably priced and included the award-winning local Camel Valley sparkling wine.

For breakfast, our smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and 'The Works' full Cornish breakfast hit the spot; preluded by a good buffet of homemade granolas, fruit and fresh-baked bread.

Each room has a kitchenette so you can knock up snacks for the kids or a quick lunch. There's a microwave-oven, kettle, fridge, toaster, dishwasher and plenty of crockery and cutlery, but no hob. Various meals can be delivered to your apartment, and you can buy cold cuts, deli items, packed lunches and breakfast boxes, too. With 24 hours' notice they'll even offer up a microwavable fish pie!

For a change of scene, head along the lane to Michelin-starred Driftwood or to The Hidden Hut on Porthcurnick - a beach-hut café famed for its summer feast nights (book ahead).

Features include:

Bar

Children meals

Coffee maker

Coffee tea making

Fridge

Kitchenette

Meal delivery service

Microwave

Restaurant

Restaurants nearby

Room service

Toaster

Vegetarian menu

Activities

Stroll 5-minutes down the lane to Porthcurnick Beach, owned by the National Trust. This sandy stretch has safe swimming, and rock-pooling at low tide. There are other fabulous beaches a short drive away, including Booby's Bay and Towan Beach

Walk the coastal path, Porthscatho village is just 20 minutes away. You can also hire bikes or kayaks, go stand-up paddle boarding or take fishing trips - ask reception. If you want to learn to surf, drive to the north-coast beaches for the day

St Mawes is only 6km away - idle away a few hours in the delightful galleries and shops or hop on the passenger ferry to Falmouth

Also on the Roseland Peninsula is the beautiful little village of St Just with its picturesque church, plus Veryan with its infamous round houses and St Mawes' Castle

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Trelissick Gardens (National Trust), the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan are all close by

Back at the hotel, the adults-only drawing room has a wood-burning stove and peaceful atmosphere for reading and relaxing. Next door, a kids playroom has a cupboard full of toys and games.

The spacious grounds have a large lawn to relax on, plenty of chairs and tables for sunny alfresco dining and drinks, and a lower field with a kids play area

There's also a great guide in each apartment, loaded with info about the property and how to make the most of your time in the area

Activities on site or nearby include:

Boat trips

Cycling

Fishing

Golf

Historical sites

Kayaking

Museums / galleries

Plantlife / flora

Sailing

Surfing

Swimming

Windsurfing

Kids

The Rosevine is family heaven and the team are wonderfully accommodating. We were really impressed by the comprehensive selection of equipment and flexible set-up. Whether you have a babe in arms or energetic pre-teens, you'll feel right at home here. The restaurant has dedicated kids' dishes and meal times, your room has a kitchenette, there's a brilliant play room and outdoor play park, plus beautiful Porthcurnick Beach on your doorstep. You could easily stay a week and feel right at home.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The main house suites and apartments were designed with kids in mind and children's bedrooms have sweet twin or bunk-beds, plus maybe bean-bags or a few children's books. The Main House Studios are best for those with one child (though they can interconnect for larger groups). The 2-bedroom Family Suites and Family Apartments can sleep families with up to 3 children.

Babysitting:

Fully qualified babysitters are available for day and night-time sessions, by prior arrangement.

Baby equipment:

There's plenty of kit to borrow, thus lessening your packing:

Baby backpack

Buggy

Steriliser

Bottle warmer

Changing mat

Nappy bin

Highchair

Travel cot

Baby bath

Children's plates and cutlery

Beach toys

Rememberbaby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Children's meals:

The restaurant has a kids menu and special mealtimes for little ones, plus baby monitors reach here from most apartments (check when booking) so you can 'dine out'. If you're loath to leave them, ask for a meat or fish platter to be delivered to your apartment (think crab, smoked salmon, prawns, fishcakes). Breakfast is served daily from 8.30am. There's a good buffet spread and kids' options including Rice Krispies, boiled eggs with soldiers and hot chocolate. The kitchenette in your apartment is great for preparing early morning toast and general snacks (note there are no hobs, only microwave-ovens, toasters and fridges).

Kids Activities nearby:

Families Should Know:

The swimming pool has no shallow end, though at 4ft it's not terribly deep. Baby monitors may not reach the restaurant from all studios and apartments, so ask for accommodation nearest the restaurant or book a babysitter.